Climbing toy



mm: Model.)

' W. G..'FARNUM..

' Climbing Toy.

Patented April 26,1881.

N. PETERS, PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D. C.

. ened end of the line to the extent of impart UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

WILLIAM G. FARNUM, OF HOOSIOK FALLS, NEW YORK.

CLIMBING TOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,510, dated April 26, 1881.

1 Application filed November 20, 1880. (No model.)

nate tightening and slackening of the cord,

can cause the automaton to ascend the cord by a succession of movements closely imitating a human being or an animal in the act of climbing a rope. I

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown two applications of the operative principlein the first as applied to a climbing automaton, and in the second as embodied in an apparatus for propelling a vehicle or receptacle between two points by means of a single cord having one end firmly fastened on one side of the interval to be traversed, the other end being free to be manipulated by the operator, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The'object sought to be accomplished by my invention is to propel a body along or upon a single cord or line, one end of which is fastened by running the line through certain specific devices constructed upon or attached to the object or body to be propelled, and alternately tightening and slackening the unfasting motion to the levers and other operative devices so attached to the body to be propelled.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a naked outline sketch of only such parts as are essential to work the invention. Fig. 2 is a view of an automaton strung on a cord and shown in position at rest. The upper end of the cord is "supposed to be fastened, and the figure is held suspended on the cord by means of the gripe I embodiment of the said devices in an apparatus for traversing otherwise impassable ways,

such as spans between buildings at high altitudes, gulfs, or rivers, 85c.

In Fig. l, A represents a rigid bar, wrought to any appropriate shape so as to furnish opportunities for the attachmentof lever B, bight 0, spring F, and the guide-loops m and J.

At some convenient distance between the extremities of bar A, as at g, is pivoted a sway bar or lever, B. In a slot or recess at one end of this lever, and somewhere-in line between the loops at and J, are fixed two small sheaves or pins, l and k.

Near the end of the other arm of the lever.

is attached a retractile spring, F, its other point of attachment being at some fixed point on bar A, as at i. The function of this spring is to throw the end of lever B, carrying the which the loop or bight of the bail O impinges is eccentric to the are described by the swing of the bight C, so thatwhen bightU is elevated it will strike the edge of this part of bar B just 7 below loop m. a

To arrange the parts for use, the cord E should be passed through loop m, and through or under bight O, thence under sheave or pin 70, back up and over sheave or pin 1, and down through and out of guide-loop J. The apparatus now being strung ready foruse, it will be found, by taking one end of the cord in each hand, or by fastening one end of the cord and taking the opposite end in the hand and drawing the cord taut, that the line will take'tirin hold of and around the pinsl and 7c, and on further tension being applied to the cord, thus en gendering a tendency to straighten out when it winds around pins land It, the said pins will be forced around into a position approximately in line with the general direction of the cord. Now, as a resultant from the fact that the cord E during this operation does not slip on or around pins Z and Ir, the other end of lever B is swung up or around in the direction of the arrow, and by meansof pivotal attachment 9 the bar A, with its appurtenances, is correspondingly elevated. This upward movementreleases bight G from its hold on the cord the moment it commences; but the moment the tension on the cord is sufficiently relaxed the whole figure inclines to slide back on the cord by gravity. The friction generated between the cord and bight G in the inception of this backsliding movement is sufficient to carry bight 0 up to the point beneath loop m, where it will grasp or pinch the cord, and the further slip of the figure on the line is thus arrested. The lower end of the cord may now be set free, and the figure will remain suspended, the gripe of bight 0 being sustained by gravity. As the tension on the cord is gradually relaxed the retractile spring F commences to exert its normal function of throwing the lever B into the position it occupied before the last above-described-movement, and in so doing carries pins 1 and 7c forward on the slack part of cord E to a point where the same operation may be repeated.

Thus it will be seen that every time the free end of cord E is tightened sufficiently to swing lever B around to the limit of its movement it effects an advance of bar A on the cord of one step, equal to the whole forward or advance movement of bar A less the amount of slip occasioned in bringing bight G into position to grasp the cord, so as to arrest any further backward movement.

The foregoing description is applicable to the figure of the automaton, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the latter case, A represents the body of the figure; B, its arms. 0, the visor of the cap, answers to the bight O of Fig. l; D, his cap; E, the cord or line; F, the retractile spring for throwing up the arms or hands; 1', its lower point of attachment, &c.

Fig. at shows a duplex application of the invention to a boat or car. In this case the pins or sheaves l and 7c are applied to a disk which has a rotary movement. This is provided so that after the boat has reached the terminus of its passage in one direction, by giving the disk Q about one and a quarter revolution, the position of the pins in relation to the cord will be reversed. Two supports for the bights O G are provided, one at each end of the boat, so thatwhen the boat is moving in one direction the bight at the opposite end of the boat is fastened up out of reach of the line. Spring F is also arranged to be reversible-that is to say, its point of attachment i may be either on the right or left of the end of lever B.

The boat having made a traverse of the cord in one direction, it can be adjusted to return by throwing off or fastening up the bight 0 last used, giving disk Q the necessary backward turns to reverse the positions of pins Z and k on the line, and there fastening the disk, changing the attachment of spring F to the opposite side of lever B, and releasing the previously-fastened end of the line, and fastening the previously slack end thereof.

In the applications of the principles of my invention just described I have shown the various devices so arranged that the propulsion of the figure or object is secured by the straining of the cord, and the change of position of the levers B or of the arms of the automaton is effected by the retractile spring; but these relative arrangements may be arranged inversely, so that the tigh teniu g of the cord shall produce the movement of the arms, and the retraction of the spring shall propel the automaton or other body along the line.

By attaching one end of the cord to an elevated point and manipulating the other end from the ground the automaton may be made to ascend to an indefinite height, to the great amusement of children. The descent of the figure is secured by gently tightening the cord until the bight 0 drops down or clear from con-.

tact with the cord at its binding-point, when, upon further slackening of the cord, all binding strain or tension of the cord upon the automaton is removed, and the figure gently slides down to the ground.

Any device which will answer the required conditions may be substituted for the bight C, and the retrograde movement of lever B may be effected in a great variety of ways without essentially departing from the principles of my invention hence I do not restrict myself to the use of the particular devices shown for these purposes, respectively.

Having thus described my invention, .1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent As a means for securing propulsion of an automaton or other body along or upon a single cord, a body-piece having at one end a grasping device for intermittently seizing and holding the cord, adapted to be controlled and regulated in its movements by the friction of the cord running through the same, provided at appropriate points with guide eyes or loops for governing the direction of the cord, and having pivoted thereto at a suitable distance below the grasping device a lever carrying at its outer or swinging end two pins or sheaves, disposed with reference to each other and to the pivotal attachment of the lever to the body substantially as shown, and armed with means for returning said lever to position to renew its hold or gripe on the cord, in combination with a cord running through the grasping device, around the pins or sheaves of the said lever, and through the several guide eyes or loops, as set forth, the whole when so arranged being adapted to secure the result aimed at by alternately tightening and slackening the cord, substantially in the manner described and set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my name this 15th day of November,. 

